Oil pressure guardian



March 1969 Xi J. LEONE 3,431,555

OIL PRESSURE GUARDIAN Filed June 1. 1966 I0 I/ I2 I" T BATTERY} F l I I I I M .30 l i k I a 32 I 35 28 l 26 ',//4 I) arm/mm? I6 OIL PRESSURE SWITCH I INVENTOR Anthony J. Leone United 3,431,555 011. PRESURE GUARDIAN Anthony J. Leone, 21 Sunnie Terrace, West Caldwell, NJ. 07606 Filed June 1, 1966, Ser. No. 554,444 US. Cl. 34tl60 Int. Cl. G08! 23/00, 21/00 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention generally relates to a warning device associated with the lubricating oil system of an internal combustion engine such as found in various vehicles in order to warn the operator of a low oil pressure condition and also stop the engine by interrupting the ignition circuit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a low oil pressure warning and protective system which is automatic in operation and will not only provide a visual and audible signal but also automatically shut down the engine in order to warn the operator of the engine and prevent damage to the engine by preventing it from running with inadequate lubrication.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an oil pressure guardian which is simple in construction, easy to install and dependable in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refere to like parts throughout, and in which:

The figure is a schematic illustration of the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, numeral 10 designates the storage battery normally found in various automotive vehicles with the ignition switch 12 being associated therewith in a conventional manner as is the alternator 14 all of which are conventional in construction. An oil pressure switch 16 is communicated with the oil pressure system so that it will operate in response to oil pressure in the engine.

A resistance type heating element 18 is provided in the line extending to the pressure switch 16 which also includes a normally open switch 20 controlled by arming relay 24. An oil pressure light 22 is provided in a circuit tates Patent extending from pressure switch 16 to ignition switch 12 when the pressure switch closes in response to low pressure.

A thermal switch 26 is disposed adjacent heater element 18 and completes a circuit through relay 28 to open switch 30 and close switch 32 thus interrupting line 34 to the primary side of the ignition coil and completing a circuit through line 36 to a warning device.

When the engine is not operating, the switch 20 is normally open as is switch 26 and switch 32. When the engine starts, the arming relay 24 closes switch 20 and normally closed switch 30 supplies ignition current to the coil. Power is available to heater 18 and relay 28 but as long as pressure of the oil is adequate, no action occurs. When oil pressure becomes low, switch 16 will close thus grounding heater 18 and light 22. After a time lag, the heater will close thermal switch 26 thus grounding relay 28 for opening switch 30 and closing switch 32 thereby stopping the engine and energizing an alarm such as an audibile buzzer or the like. The time lag may be approximately 30 seconds so that the device will not be activated by a temporary low pressure such as when starting or stopping the engine.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A warning device for use in combination with an internal combustion engine of the type having a pressurized lubricating oil system and an electrical ignition sys tem including a source of electrical energy and an ignition switch, and oil pressure switch communicated with the oil system and being normally opened and closed under adverse low pressure conditions, a signal device connecting the pressure switch to the source of electrical energy with closing of the pressure switch closing a circuit through the signal device to actuate the signal device when the oil pressure drops to a dangerous low point, said device including a normally closed relay switch in the electrical ignition system, and a time delay thermal switch responsive to closing of the pressure switch to interrupt the circuit to the electrical ignition system, said thermal switch being operated after a time lag in response to a heater device incorporated into the circuit to the oil pressure switch for energization when the pressure switch closes, said time lag being approximately 30 seconds in duration so that said device will not be activated by a temporarily low pressure such as occurs when starting or stopping the engine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,729,806 1/1956 Dewhirst 340 52 ALVIN H. WARING, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

